BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Governor Frank Darr Jackson was born at Arcade in Wyoming County, New York, on January 26, 1854. In 1867 he removed with his parents to Buchanan County, Iowa. He received his education in the public schools, the Iowa State Agricultural College, and the State University of Iowa. In 1874 he graduated from the Law Department of the State University. For a time he practiced law at Greene, Iowa. In 1882 Mr. Jackson was elected to the office of Secretary of the Senate in the General Assembly of Iowa. Two years later he was reëlected to the same position. In 1884 he was elected by the Republican party to the office of Secretary of State, which position through reëlection he continued to hold for six years. It was in 1893 that Mr. Jackson was nominated by the Republican party for the office of Governor. Horace Boies, who had held the office of Governor for two successive terms, was the candidate of the Democratic party. Mr. Jackson was elected by a plurality of over 30,000 votes. He held the office of Governor for one term (1894–1896) having declined to be a candidate for renomination. Since his retirement from office Mr. Jackson has served as President of the Royal Union Mutual Life Insurance Company which is located at Des Moines, Iowa. INAUGURAL ADDRESS JANUARY 11, 1894 From the Iowa Legislative Documents for 1894, Vol. I Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives, and Fellow Citizens: The year 1893 has witnessed the successful culmination of an event of unusual National importance, one in which every patriotic citizen has been most deeply interested. The mighty achievements of the American people during a period of a little more than a hundred years have been brought into sharp contrast and comparison with those of foreign countries that have stood in the van of civilization for centuries. While these comparisons are a source of deep gratification to the American citizen in general, the crowning triumph of the Columbian Exposition is found in the exhibit of American energy, courage and will so indelibly impressed upon all minds by its magnificent conception and its full, complete and successful consummation. Most fittingly has it fulfilled its great mission in its representation of the energies, intelligence, benevolence and Christian character of a great and progressive people. The State of Iowa, though young in years and development, has been most deeply interested in this great National event, and along with her sister States she placed the best evidences of her resources, her intelligence, and the development of her soil into full and complete comparison. It is a matter of just pride and a subject of congratulation to every citizen of our State that in this crucial test of resources Iowa has fully maintained that high prestige and standing which fairly places her at the head of the great producing States of this Union. The showing of Iowa at the Columbian Exposition has published the fact to the world that her resources are not only in the depth and richness of her soil, in the value of her corn, cattle and hogs, but in her dairy products, her mineral wealth, in the value and quality of her fruits, in her mighty railway systems, her stable financial institutions, and her magnificent public school system. When viewed in the light of comparison with older and more experienced States and governments, this showing is a source of deepest gratification and highest congratulation. The exhibit of our manufacturing industries, though not extensive, gives positive indication that these great plants of prosperity and wealth have firmly imbedded themselves in Iowa soil. Let the spirit of fairness and wisdom on the part of our lawmakers encourage and invite into our midst these powerful promoters of intelligence, wealth and prosperity, remembering that the greater the business diversity of the people the more independent, progressive and powerful will they invariably become. Therefore let encouragement be offered to every legitimate business enterprise within our borders; let our laws be framed so wisely that, while they will properly guard and protect the rights of the people of our State, the spirit of fairness and equity shall breathe in every sentence encouragement for the investment of capital and the development of industries, and at the same time protect with a |